Homemade explosives found after NY apartment blast

SPRINGWATER, N.Y. (AP) — A New York man with a stockpile of homemade bombs was apparently drying explosive material in his oven when it exploded, leading to the evacuation of several nearby homes and his arrest, sheriff’s investigators said Friday.

No injuries were reported in the Thursday night explosion, which heavily damaged the oven.

Crews responding to the blast found 30 to 40 pipe bombs and other explosive devices and firearms inside the apartment in the rural hamlet of Springwater, south of Rochester, authorities said. Crews continued to remove items into Friday.

The 34-year-old tenant, Joseph Martino, was being held without bail at Livingston County jail on weapons and reckless endangerment charges. It was unclear whether he had a lawyer.

The investigation was ongoing, but Undersheriff James Szczesniak said there was no evidence yet that Martino “had any ill intent.” Martino, who lives alone and is believed to be unemployed, was being evicted, “but we have no indication he was trying to destroy the building,” the undersheriff said.

Szczesniak said Martino has a criminal history, but he declined to discuss it, except to say it did not involve explosives.